Posts Tagged With ‘ Government ’

Winning the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes seems like a dream that you wish could happen to you when you see the TV ad. However, Publishers Clearing House has been deceiving people for decades. It used language and designs on its website and in its email marketing that tricked consumers, including many older adults, into believing they had to buy things on the PCH website to enter a sweepstakes, the Federal Trade Commission said in a lawsuit. PCH also implied that buying something would improve their chances of winning a prize. Customers who did buy something on PCH.com were in for surprises,... Continue Reading

It was almost comical when – on Dr. Phil’s program trashing cancel culture that included support for antivaxxers – at the end of the program, Dr. Phil and his wife suggested that people “talk to each other” in a divided America. America isn’t a divided country. What’s happening is that the far right is trying to take over the country and make everyone live according to its fundamentalist “values.” Before Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan, the political parties worked together to pass legislation to benefit the country. Remember, Richard Nixon signed the National Environmental... Continue Reading

Your July Fourth celebration could be ruined with a serious injury and trip to the emergency room. Fireworks related injuries continue to be high, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is urging consumers to either watch community fireworks displays or take steps to use consumer-grade fireworks safely. Eleven fireworks-related deaths were reported in 2022, mostly associated with mortar-style devices, the CPSC said in a new report announced Thursday on the National Mall where the agency offered live demonstrations of fireworks dangers. Five of the deaths were caused by fireworks misuse,... Continue Reading

Most people rely heavily on online shopping. However, with lots of screens before you get to check-out, you could sign up for a service without knowing it. Then, it can be difficult to cancel. For years, Amazon.com enrolled consumers into its Prime program without their consent while making it hard for them to cancel, the Federal Trade Commission charged in a lawsuit filed Wednesday. Amazon used manipulative, deceptive designs called “dark patterns” to trick consumers into enrolling in automatically-renewing Prime subscriptions. The button offered to consumers to finish their transaction... Continue Reading

Another consumer product with LED lighting is being recalled. Ashley Furniture Industries is recalling about 253,000 power loveseats, sofas, and recliners in the United States and another 9,450 in Canada. The power loveseats, sofas, and recliners’ cupholder with LED lighting can overheat, posing a fire risk. This recall involves Ashley Furniture Industries-branded Party Time loveseats, sofas, and recliners. The power recliners are power-reclining, faux-leather home seating units with power controls, integrated LED lighting, and USB charging ports. The recalled furniture was sold in black and... Continue Reading

Photo: Filip Maljković American International Group is planning to curb homeowners insurance sales for owners at high risk of floods, storms, or wildfires in 200 zip codes across the United States, according to a report in the Wall St Journal. AIG is the third major insurer in recently to announce cuts to homeowners insurance.  “AIG’s actions are shameful,” David Arkush, director of Public Citizen’s Climate program. “It is a top global insurer of oil and gas  — meaning that, more than most insurers on the planet, it is contributing to and profiting from the very climate harms that... Continue Reading

Genetic testing, where a company examines your DNA, often from a saliva sample, and sends you a report about your family background or your likelihood for developing certain health conditions, is all the rage. It sounds like a great idea, but can you trust a company when it promises to keep your sensitive DNA data private? Vitagene, a San Francisco-based DNA testing company, promised consumers that it exceeded industry-standard security practices for maintaining the privacy of people’s sensitive health and genetic information. However, the Federal Trade Commission said the company didn’t... Continue Reading

Either I missed the Public Citizen report on the toll private equity is taking on U.S. health care or I didn’t understand the significance of it. The report, released in March 2023, says private equity takeovers have come with shocking lapses in safety, with prices rising faster than at non-private equity acquired entities, while patients have been subjected to price gouging schemes. Private equity acquisitions in the health care sector have climbed since the financial crisis in 2009, particularly in the past five years. Unlike acquisitions of hospitals, which usually occur under with public... Continue Reading

It’s a tragedy that more babies are dying in loungers and companies are continuing to sell dangerous ones. Boppy newborn loungers Although Boppy newborn loungers were recalled in September 2021 due to the risk that infants can suffocate, shortly after the recall two additional infants died in loungers in unsafe sleep environments. In October 2021, an infant was placed on the lounger for sleep and then it rolled underneath a nearby adult pillow. In November 2021, an infant was placed on the lounger in an adult bed with a parent and soft bedding, and it was later found dead on the lounger. Consumers... Continue Reading

Financial institutions are increasingly using chatbots, which put out human-like responses using computer programming, to communicate with customers to save money. Chatbots sometimes have human names and use popup features to encourage interaction. Some chatbots use more complex technologies such as “artificial intelligence” to respond to customers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received hundreds of complaints from frustrated customers trying to receive timely, straightforward answers from their financial institutions or to raise a concern or dispute. “To reduce costs, many... Continue Reading